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0 F SMITH Construction of Aerial Telegraph Lines. No. 239,868. Patented April 5, 1881* mi'nesses:

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ORLANDO F. SMITH, OF NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ADOLPHUS A. KNUDSON, OF BROOKLYN, N. Y.

CONSTRUCTION OF AERIAL TELEGRAPH-LINES.

SPEQIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 239,868, dated April 5, 1881.

Application filed February 8, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORLANDO F. SMITH, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the construction of Aerial Telegraph-Lines,

of which the following is a specification.

Prior to the date of my invention, so far as my knowledge extends, the insulation and protection of telegraphic and other electrical 1o conductors extending from place to place has been effected either by placing insulating-supports in theairat a suitable height, either upon on poles erected for the purpose, or upon structures erected upon the roofs of buildings, and

suspending the conductors therefrom, either separately or combined together in cables, or else by the construction of a system of underground tubes or conduits beneath the street or roadway, within which groups of conduct- 2o ors areinclosed, having previously been coated with non-conducting material, in order to insulate them from each other and from the earth.

The objections to the first-named method,

2 5 especially when applied in connection with the vast numbers of wires which are required to be provided for in large cities, are very numerous. The structures erected for the purpose of sustainingthe wires are cumbersome and unsightly, and are frequently broken down by storms, causing great danger to passengers and obstruction to travel in the streets, and when placed upon the roofs of buildings, in addition to the above-named objections,

they are inconveniently situated for inspection and repairs, and are liable to cause great injury to the roofs of the buildings to which their supports are attached, by reason of the enormous strain to which the supports are 0 sometimes subjected during violent storms.

When the conductors are laid in underground conduits, although they are entirely concealed from view and are protected from mechanical injury, yet they are subject to deterioration from the etl'ects of gases which permeate the earth and damage the insulating coating, thereby permitting the access of moisture to the conductors. When so situated they are also very difficult of access for the (No model.)

purpose of making needed repairs or of adding to the number of conductors whenever the increase of facilities requires such addition, or the insertion of branches for the purpose of conducting the wires int-o particular buildings and to the lamps used for electric lighting and other similar purposes.

My invention differs essentially from both the methods of construction hereinbefore referred to and now in general use, and' effectually obviates the difiiculties and objections 6o inseparable from the present systems.

The invention consists in the employment of a special structure forsupporting,inclosing, and protecting groups of electrical conductors, which consists of a series of hollow upright metallic pillars which are set in the ground at suitable distances apart. This series of pillars supports a continuous horizontal metallic girder, which is secured to each of them, and which is provided with a series of supports, preferably secured to the web of said girder, upon which the electrical conductors are placed.

The invention further consists in the combination, with the hollow pillars of the structare, of an underground conduit and electric conductors, whereby connection may convenientl y be made between the wires of the aerial structure and the wires of the subterranean structure, by passing the said conductors through the interior of a pillar and its hollow base.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation, partly in section, of a structure embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-section of the horizontal girder, showing the manner in which the conductors are attached thereto; and Fig.

3 is a cross-section of a conduit or tube for containing wires, constituting a modification of 0 the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, the line A A represents the surface of a street, roadway, or sidewalk.

A series of hollow iron pillars or columns, B B B B is erected in the manner shown in 5 the figure. Each pillar may be secured to a hollow iron base or pedestal, I), which may be set in masonry, as shown at B and secured to a heavy stone or iron base, 12*, or fastened firmly in its upright position in any other convenient manner, according to circumstances. The iron girderO O is placed horizontally along the tops of the posts B, B &c., and is secured thereto by bolts or otherwise. The girder '(l G'is shown in cross-section in Fig. 2, and is preferably of a T form, consisting of a horizontal top and bottom flange and a vertical web, 0, which form gives great strength and rigidity with comparatively small weight, and at the same time is of a convenient form to support and protect the electric conductors. The electric conductors may be insulated from each other by covering them with non-conducting material by any well-known method.

The insulated conductors I are laid together loosely and placed in concave troughs or conduits D D, which are preferably secured to the web of the girder, as shown in Fig. 2.

A series of movable flaps or shutters, d d, are hinged to the upper flange of the girder O C, and fastened beneath the lower flange by means of suitable hooks or catches (1. These shutters, which are preferably of metal, serve to inclose and completely protect the conductors, and yet-may be readily opened at anyrequired point to afford convenient access to the conductors or their supports for the purpose of removing or repairing them, or of placing additional ones, if for any reason they should be required. The conductors may beinclosed in a cylindrical metallic tube, as shown in Fig. 3, having a longitudinal opening for the insertion or withdrawal of conductors, which opening is closed by a curved section, g, which is made to fit it, and may be secured to it in any convenient manner. Conductors which are designed for electric lamps maybe placed within the conduit formed by the girder and shutters, or they may be placed in aseparate conduit 011 the upper side of the girder, and in either case the lamps for lighting the streets may be mounted upon lamp-posts upon the top of the girder, as shown at H in Fig. 1, and firmly secured thereto. This method of construction enables the conductors for supplying the electric lamps for street-lightin g to be connected with the main wires with the utmost convenience and facility, as well as by the most direct route possible from lamp to lamp, thereby avoidin gthe electrical resistance of unnecessary lengths of conductor, which, in this system of lighting, is of great importance.

At suitable or convenient intervals a testbox, IE, is mounted upon the girder and properly secured to it, preferably directly over one of the pillars, as at 13, whereby convenient access may be had thereto. The severed ends of the conductors, which have previously been brought into the test-box for the purpose, as shownin Fig.1, are attached to binding-screws or to a switch, thus enabling them to be connected, disconnected, and tested in a manner well understood. An opening for the purpose of enabling the wires to be introducedinto the test-box may be formed by leaving a small interval between the two girders, terminating upon a post, or a section of the upper flange of a girder, on either side, may be cut out for the purpose. The pillar B beneath the testbox, may be provided with, climbing-steps, as shown in Fig. 1.

It is often necessary, especially in cities, to provide for a connection between aerial and subterranean wires. In my improved system this is effected by terminating the underground conduit F within the hollow base 6 of one of the pillars, B, of the structure. The wires leading from the underground conduit F are passed through the interior of the hollow base Z), and thence into the aerial conduit formed on either side of the girder O O, as hereinbet'ore described.

The signal-boxes of fire-alarm and police telegraphs may conveniently be attached to the columns of the structure wherever required, and the wires led into them through theinteriorofthehollowcolumns. Pneumatic tubes, for the conveyance of letters and small packages, may also be placed within or upon the structure instead of beneath the surface of the ground, as heretofore done.

It will be seen that a telegraphic structure of the character hereinbefore described possesses manifold advantages over those heretofore in use, especially when employed in large cities. The pillars supporting the structure may be placed along the edge of the sidewalk, and may conveniently be about fifteen feet in height. They may be constructed of small size, and made neat and ornamental in their appearance. The horizontal portion of the structure will accommodate avery large number of conductors within a small space, and they will be thoroughly protected from the action of the elements and from malicious interference of every kind, while at the same time they will be as accessible for the purpose of examination, repairs, or reconstruction as the wires of the ordinary aerial lines. Any repairs, alterations, or additions may be made with the greatest convenience and facility, and with very little expense.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a series of upright metallic pillars, a horizontal metallic girder supported upon said pillars, and one or more insulated electric conductors attached to the exterior of said girder.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a flanged horizontal girder and conduits or supports for electric conductors attached to the web of said girder.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a flanged horizontal girder, conduits or supports for electric conductors attached to the web of said girder, and movable shutters inelosin g the space between the edges of the top and bottom flanges of said girder.

4. The combination, substantially as herein- In testimony whereof I have hereunto subbefore set forth, of a hollow upright metallic scribed my name this 7th day of February, A. pillar, a horizontal girder supported thereby D. 1881.

and attached thereto, a subterranean conduit, ORLANDO F. SMITH. 5 and one or more insulated conductors extend- Witnesses:

ing from said conduit through the exterior of NELSON ZABRISKIE,

the post and along the girder. MILLER G. EARL. 

